goodmorningpapua.com – Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar said the number of underdeveloped villages in Papua Province decreased by 891 villages during 2015-2020.
“Villages that are very underdeveloped have fallen from 3,789 villages to 2,898 villages. Developed villages have increased from five villages to 21 villages. One independent village has emerged,” said Mendes PDTT Abdul Halim Iskandar.
Meanwhile, in West Papua Province, he continued, villages were very underdeveloped, from 921 villages to 890 villages. Developed villages increased from four villages to 11 villages.
He said that the decline in the number of villages that were left behind could not be separated from the Village Fund program.
Abdul Halim explained, village funds for Papua Province reached Rp 22.46 trillion during 2015-2021.
“This includes building 1,348 km of roads, 13 km of bridges, 73 market units, 75 additional units of boats, 16 units of reservoirs, 167 rural electricity units, 4,087 clean water infrastructure units, 3,282 units of toilets, 32 Polindes, 182 Posyandu,” he explained.
Meanwhile, village funds in West Papua during 2015-2021 reached Rp 6.86 trillion which was used to build 440 km of roads, construction of 1.6 km of bridges, 22 units of markets, 57 additional units of boats, 2 units of reservoirs, 1,961 units of rural electricity, 1,934 clean water infrastructure units, 3,535 MCK units, 30 Polindes, 129 Posyandu.
Meanwhile, the aid allocation of Ministry of Villages PDTT for Papua and West Papua in 2019, Gus Minister said, reached IDR 76.318 billion. And in 2020 it will reach IDR 39,445 billion.
Abdul Halim also conveyed that in 2017-2018 the Ministry of Health, PDTT, together with IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) implemented the Independent Village Development Program (PPDM).
“The PPDM activities include facilitating the farmer group of Arfak Mountains in supplying carrots, potatoes, chayote, leeks, passion fruit and mustard greens for the Subitu Market (BP-LNG Tangguh, Teluk Bintuni Regency),” he said.
In addition, he continued, also facilitating the Farmers Group of Jayawijaya Regency in collaborating with BRI to procure equipment and strengthen agricultural capacity such as coffee, dragon fruit and honey.
Then, developing the cultivation and sale of dragon fruit in Nabire Regency. Facilitating the increased access to the honey market for the Jayawijaya District Farmers Group.
Then, facilitating the farmer groups in Fak-Fak, Kaimana, Raja Ampat, and Yapen regencies in marketing seaweed directly to associations and seaweed exporters, as well as the development of tripang cultivation in Fak-Fak Regency.